Kentucky Derby Future Wager: Nyquist closes as 5-2 choice in Pool 4

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Emboldening his backers with a decisive victory Saturday in the Florida Derby, the undefeated Nyquist closed as the solid favorite in the fourth and final pool of the 2016 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

When Pool 4 closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern, Nyquist was the 3-1 favorite, followed by Mohaymen (8-1) and the mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, at 10-1. Then came Cupid (11-1), Mor Spirit (11-1), Gun Runner (13-1), Danzing Candy (16-1), Destin (16-1), Mo Tom (17-1), and Shagaf (17-1).

A $2 win bet on Nyquist will pay $8 if he wins the 142nd Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs. The lowest exacta will-pay combination is Nyquist over Mohaymen (16-14), worth $60.40 for $2.

The most noteworthy odds shifts came after results of the Florida Derby became known. Nyquist was bet down steadily from an earlier high of 8-1, while Mohaymen, a disappointing fourth, drifted up after being an early favorite. Those two were the only horses in action over the weekend among the 23 separately listed Pool 4 interests.

Combined handle for Pool 4, which had a three-day run with a Friday opening, was $435,357. That was up 4.2 percent from last year, when a combined $417,673 was bet and the 9-2 Pool 4 favorite, American Pharoah, went on to win the Derby.

Aggregate handle for the four pools toward the 2016 Derby totaled $1,379,356, which was down 9.4 percent from last year, when the aggregate was $1,523,175, second-highest since Churchill began offering parimutuel futures in 1999. The record for aggregate handle is $1,665,990, set in 2005.

The aggregate for this year does not include the first-ever Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, which handled $34,960 concurrent to Pool 1 last fall.

The field was favored in Derby Pool 1, which ran Nov. 26-29, and in Pool 2 (Feb. 12-14). Mohaymen was the 7-2 favorite in Pool 3 (March 11-13).

Only five horses were separately listed in all four pools: Exaggerator, Gun Runner, Mohaymen, Mor Spirit, and Nyquist.

A single Kentucky Oaks pool ran concurrent with Derby Pool 3, with Songbird closing as the 7-10 favorite.

FINAL Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 odds box

(Prog. No., Horse, Trainer, Pool 1, Pool 2, Pool 3, Pool 4)

1. American Pioneer, W.Catalano, *3-5, *5-2, *5-1, 84-1

2. Cherry Wine, D.Romans, *3-5, 31-1, *5-1, 55-1

3. Creator, S.Asmussen, *3-5, *5-2, *5-1, 58-1

4. Cupid, B.Baffert, *3-5, *5-2, 36-1, 11-1

5. Danzing Candy, C.Sise, *3-5, 28-1, 17-1, 16-1

6. Dazzling Gem, *3-5, *5-2, *5-1, 121-1

7. Destin, T.Pletcher, *3-5, *5-2, 15-1, 16-1

8. Exaggerator, K.Desormeaux, 25-1, 22-1, 23-1, 27-1

9. Flexibility, C.Brown, 71-1, *5-2, *5-1, 81-1

10. Gun Runner, S.Asmussen, 57-1, 25-1, 25-1, 13-1

11. Lani, M.Matsunaga, *3-5, *5-2, *5-1, 25-1

12. Matt King Cole, L.Rice, 87-1, *5-2, 43-1, 44-1

13. Mo Tom, T.Amoss, *3-5, 28-1, 15-1, 17-1

14. Mohaymen, K.McLaughlin, 11-1, 4-1, 7-2, 8-1

15. Mor Spirit, B.Baffert, 31-1, 12-1, 12-1, 11-1

16. Nyquist, D. O’Neill, 9-1, 7-1, 7-1, 3-1

17. Outwork, T.Pletcher, *3-5, *5-2, *5-1, 30-1

18. Shagaf, C.Brown, *3-5, 32-1, 14-1, 17-1

19. Suddenbreakingnews, D.K.VonHemel, *3-5, *5-2, 14-1, 34-1

20. Swipe, K.Desormeaux, 18-1, *5-2, 31-1, 29-1

21. Tom’s Ready, *3-5, *5-2, *5-1, 72-1

22. Whitmore, R.Moquett, *3-5, 81-1, 42-1, 33-1

23. Zulu, T.Pletcher, *3-5, 24-1, 26-1, 34-1

24. Mutuel field (all other 3-year-olds), 3-5, 5-2, 5-1, 10-1

* – denotes mutuel field entry.

Win handle, $282,929

Exacta handle, $152,428

Total handle, $435,357

Four-pool aggregate handle, $1,379,356